In Your Head | Jan/Feb '17

In Your Head: Do You Have a Surgical Lucky Charm or OR Ritual?

One of our greatest team rituals is having Turkish coffee together. Preparing Turkish coffee is a ritual in itself. It does not come out of a machine, but rather brews slowly on a fire. In my experience, the conversations that accompany Turkish coffee taste as good as the beverage itself. A piece of chocolate on the side is the recipe for perfection—and my definition of a lucky charm.

Ivan Mac, MD, MBA

Ivan Mac, MD, MBA

The only ritual I have is saying a short prayer of gratitude for the ability to help patients see better and for the success of the day’s surgeries. I do this while scrubbing in at the beginning of the surgery day. I also wear fun earrings and a bright surgical cap.

Cathleen M. McCabe, MD

Cathleen M. McCabe, MD

I do not know if my OR ritual will be enlightening for readers, but it sure works for me. My priorities center around ensuring good connections with the people I operate on and work with, maintaining the ambiance that is created by nonsurgical elements such as music, and ensuring that the proper data is displayed for me to refer to at a moment’s notice.